Xiaomi has listed the smaller Watch S5 41mm on its global website, so the compact version of its stainless steel smartwatch is now heading outside China with NFC payments, offline maps and up to 14 days of battery life.
- The Xiaomi global product page lists three finishes: Black and Light Blue with fluoro-rubber straps, and Ceramic White with a ceramic bezel and leather strap.
- Xiaomi quotes up to 14 days of battery life with light use, 8 days with normal use and 5 days with the always-on display turned on.
- The watch supports contactless payments with Xiaomi Pay and Google Pay, although NFC availability varies by region and bank.
- Built-in GNSS covers GPS, Galileo, GLONASS, BeiDou and QZSS, with offline maps, route navigation, track-back and off-route alerts.
- The watch can broadcast heart rate over Bluetooth to a bike computer or a third-party app, and it tracks heart rate underwater during swims.
- Xiaomi has not published a global price or release date yet.
What it means for industry watchers
Linking with Google Wallet and Google Pay makes getting an on-the-wrist payment solution much easier. Google may well only deal with larger entities like Xiaomi, but it may give hope to other players to finally bag one of those key, missing smart features.
What it means for buyers
Buyers with smaller wrists get a smaller alternative to the 46mm Xiaomi Watch S5, in a 41.4mm stainless steel case that is 9.9mm thick and weighs 36g without the strap. Xiaomi says the 590mAh battery has 84% more capacity than the one in the 41mm Watch S4.
Gym members and newer runners can follow a route on offline maps, pay for a coffee without a phone and send heart rate to an indoor bike or cycling computer. Sleep HRV tracking compares each night against a personal baseline and gives recommendations when recovery looks low. Full details sit on the Xiaomi specs index, alongside the earlier Xiaomi Watch S4.
Quick answers
Does Xiaomi Watch S5 41mm have GPS?
Yes. It has built-in GNSS with GPS, Galileo, GLONASS, BeiDou and QZSS, plus offline maps and route navigation downloaded through the Mi Fitness app.
Can Xiaomi Watch S5 41mm send heart rate to a bike computer?
Yes. It broadcasts heart rate over Bluetooth to cycling computers and third-party apps that accept the standard BLE heart rate profile.
Compare it with the rest of the range in the best Xiaomi watch guide, and see the earlier Xiaomi Smart Band 11 European launch.
Last Updated on 10 November 2026 by tfk the5krunner
Small things I always use
- Garmin 90-degree charging adapter: Charges your Garmin from any USB-C cable. Essential when travelling. I use one.
- Body Glide: The blue anti-chafe stick swimmers and runners carry. I use it.
- Speedo earplugs: Fewer ear infections and no cold-water dizziness. I use them.
- Dryrobe Advance: My winter changing robe for open-water swims. I use one. A cheaper option is the AONYIYI changing robe.
- Maurten: Race fuel that stays easy on the stomach. I use them.
- Beet It Sport nitrate shots: Beetroot shots I take in the days before a race. I use them.
- Garmin charging puck: The quickest way to top up before a session. I use one.
- Injinji: Toe socks that stop rubbing, so you run more. I use them.
- Ultimate toe protectors: Stop black toenails on long runs. They work. I use them.
- Compressport R2 v2 calf sleeves: My calf sleeves of choice. I use them.
- Cellucor C4: My pre-workout before hard sessions.
- TPU tubes: Schwalbe Aerothan, Tubolito and Pirelli SmarTube. Light, tiny spares. I use all three.
- G8 insoles: Adjustable insoles that are good. I use them.
- Cycplus Cube: A 97g electric pump that gets a road tyre rideable in two minutes. I carry one. 5% off with code THE5KRUNNER.
Watches and sensors
- Polar H10: My daily driver for waking HRV.
- Polar Verity Sense: My backup arm-worn HR sensor.
- Nomad bedside charger: Charges my iPhone and Apple Watch overnight. I use it, and many of their bands.
- Train.Red: The best muscle oxygen sensor I’ve used.
- Tymewear: Accurate heart rate and reliable ventilatory zones. I use it to pace endurance rides over an hour.
- Garmin Forerunner 970: A pro-grade triathlon watch. I use this.
- Apple Watch Ultra 4: My daily smartwatch. No phone needed on rides.
- Garmin Fenix 9 Pro: I’ve just bought one.
On the bike
- Continental GP5000 for everyday riding, and Aero 111 on the front for special occasions.
- Helmets: Specialized S-Works Evade 3 for road riding, and Rudy Project Wing for TT-style races. I use both.
- Ravemen FR300: A front light that mounts under your Garmin or Wahoo. I use one.
- Ravemen FR1000: The light and the computer mount in one unit, so nothing else goes on the bars. Better than mine.
- Ravemen FR1500SE: 1,500 lumens hanging under your Garmin, for proper night rides.
- Ravemen FR1100SE: 1,100 lumens under your Garmin, and up to 46 hours on slow flash.
- Ravemen FR500: A brighter FR300 with the same mount.
- Wahoo TRACKR Radar: I use it on one bike and Varia on the other. They perform the same.
- Garmin Varia RTL515: Radar that warns you of cars from behind. I use this model.
- Wahoo ELEMNT Roam 3: The bike computer that’s easy to use. I use mine on most rides.
- Favero Assioma Pro RS2: Accurate power pedals that swap easily between bikes. I use this model.
Home and indoor training
- NPE Runn: Makes my basic treadmill smart, sending more accurate speed and distance to my watch and Zwift. I use it.
- Google Wifi: Keeps Zwift connected in my pain cave. I use it.
- Apple TV 4K: Zwift on the big screen. I use two.
- Google Nest Doorbell (wired, 2nd gen): My video doorbell, running in both Google Home and Apple Home. I use it.
Health, recovery and sleep
- FreeStyle Libre 3 Plus: Shows how my blood sugar responds to diet.
- hDrop: Measures my sweat loss in summer and indoors.
- Fourth Frontier Zone: Checks my heart under load in hard sessions.
- Kineon MOVE+: Red and infrared light for sore knees, Achilles and other joints after hard training. I use it.
- Oura Ring 5: My partner’s recovery tracker of choice.
- Eight Sleep: A cooling mattress cover my partner and I use nightly.
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tfk is the founder and author of the5krunner, an independent endurance sports technology publication. With 20 years of hands-on testing of GPS watches and wearables, and competing in triathlons at an international age-group level, tfk provides in-depth expert analysis of fitness technology for serious athletes and endurance sport competitors. See the gear tfk uses. ID
